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H. PRAEGERL I Music-Desk for Piano-Fortes.

No. 226,676. Patented. April 20, 1880.

-ZF 22 a.

WWI v W gnmss'ss Q9? INVENTOR.

v ATTORNEYS.

NJEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHlN TON a C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY PRAEGER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM KNABE & (10.,OF SAME PLACE.

MUSIC-DESK FOR PlANO-FORTES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 226,676, dated April20, 1880.

Application filed February 24, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 'tfiown that I, HENRY PRAEGER, of Baltimore, in the county ofBaltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthisspecification.

Mv invention relates more especially to that ass of upright pianos whichhave musicdesks adapted when in use to be supported in forward verticalinclination, and when not in use to be folded in upright position withincorresponding recesses formed in the front casings of the pianos abovethe key-boards.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for adjustingthe music; desk in open or closed position, and for maintaining it inforward inclination when in use.

The improvement consists, first, in the combination, with a casingprovided with a recess, of a desk journaled in the latter and having itsupper portion provided with lateral projections adapted to enteropenings in the rear side of the casing when the desk is closed; second,in the combination, with a casingprovided with a desk-recess whose sidegrooves have rear openings in their upper portions, of a desk journaledin said grooves and having its upper portion provided with lateralprojections adapted to pass through said openings when the desk isadjusted in open or closed position; third,in the combination, with acasing provided with a desk-recess having side grooves, of a deskjournaled in the latter, the walls of the casing which providehorizontal bearing for the rear side of the desk when closed being cutaway at their upper portion to permit the lateral projections of thedesk to pass through rear openings in the casing when the desk isopened; fourth, in the combination, with a casing provided with adesk-recess whose side grooves have rear openings, of a desk journaledin the grooves and having lateral projections above its journals, whichpass through the rear openings, said lateral projections being adaptedto have horizontal bearing respectively against the inner or outer sidesof the rear grooved walls,

and thereby maintain the desk in open or .5

closed position, as desired.

Referring to'the drawings, which represent parts sufficient toillustrate the invention, Figurel is a view in front elevation, showingthe desk closed. Fig. 2 is a view, in rear elevation, of the same. Fig.3 is a detail view of the desk. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectionthrough the casing, and representing a side elevation of the desk inopen position. Fig. 5 is a view similar to the preceding one, andrepresenting the desk in closed position.

A represents the front casing above the key board of an upright piano.It is provided with a recess adapted to receive a music-desk, B. Sidegrooves, a, are formed in the walls of this recess, and serve asbearings for journals b, with which the desk is provided. The upperportion of these grooves is formed with rear openings, 0, through whichlateral projections d pass when thedesk is adjusted in open or closedposition. These lateral projections are connected to the upper portionof the desk, and correspond in sectional dimension with the rearopenings of the side grooves through which they pass. They may be madein single piece with the desk, as shown in the drawings, or they may bemade separate therefrom. In the latter instance they might be formed ofa single or of independent pieces of metal or other suitable material.As the desk is opened by drawing its main portion out in forwardinclination, that portion thereof which is above the horizontal linepassing through both journals is thrown back in a corresponding rearwardinclination, and the lateral projections pass outward through the rearopenings.

The vertical dimension of the desk-recess in the casing exceeds that ofthe desk, so that when the latter is closed its lateral projections arebelow and out of line with therear openings of the side grooves; hencethe desk is secured in vertical position as a panel. To open the desk itis raised in vertical line until it strikes the top of itscasing-recess, and its lateral projections are thereby brought inhorizontal line with the rear openings of the side grooves. The desk isthen tilted so that its main portion projects forwardly and that p01tion thereof which is above the journals pro- 5 jects rearwardly.

As soon as the lateral projections of the desk have cleared the rearopenings the desk is allowed to drop down so as to cause saidprojections to have horizontal bearing against the rear side of thecasing, the vertical dimension of the side grooves being sut'lieient topermit the journals to have sliding movement therein corresponding tothe vertical ad just-ments of the desk above described. It

I5 willthus be seen that the lateral projections of the desk serve adouble function: They maintain the desk in proper inclination when inuse, and they lock it in vertical position when not in use.

The walls 0 of the casing, which provide horizontal bearing for the rearside of the desk when the latter is closed, are cut away at their upperportions, as shown at f, thus permitting that portion of the desk whichis above the journals to be thrown back in rearward inclination.

The desk may be provided with a musicrest, 0, of any suitable form, thesame being similar to or different from the one shown in 0 the drawings.

A knob, D, or any other desired device, may be employed to open andclose the desk.

The description and drawings show my pre ferred form of carrying out theinvention. It

is evident, however, that changes in the specific construction thereofmay be made, provided the essential elements of invention set forth inthe following claims are employed.

Having fully described my invention, what 40 I claim-as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a musical instrument, thecombination, with a casing provided with a recess, of a desk journaledin the latter and having its upper portion provided with lateralprojections adapted to enter openings in the rear side of the casingwhen the desk is closed, substantially as set forth.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination, with a casing provided witha desk-recess the side grooves of which have rear openings in theirupper portions, of adesk journaled in said grooves and having its upperportion provided with lateral projections adapted to pass through saidopenings when the disk is adjusted in open or closed position,substantially as set forth.

3. In a musical instrtunent, the combination, with a casing providedwith a desk-recess having side grooves, of a desk journaled in thelatter, the walls of the casing which provide horizontal bearing for therear side of the desk when elosedbeing cut away at their upper portionsto permit the lateral projections of the desk to pass through rearopenings in the easing when the desk is opened, substantially as setforth.

4t. In a musical instrument, the combination, with a casin g providedwith a desk-recess the side grooves of which have rear openings, of adesk journaled in the grooves and having lateral projections above itsjournals, which pass through the rear openings, said lateral projectionsbeing adapted to have horizontal bearing respectively against the inneror enter 7 5 sides of the rear grooved walls, and thereby maintain thedesk in open or closed position, as desired, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this17th day of 80 February, 1880.

l: ENRY PRAEGER.

Witnesses:

R. W. Cox, 7 (3-120. MOOAFFRAY.

